Kallen, David J.

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Clinical Sociology ReviewVolume 6 | Issue 1 Article 251-1-1988Social Support and Health: An AnnotatedBiliographyDavid J. KallenFollow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/csrThis Book Review is brought to you for free and open access by DigitalCommons@WayneState. It has been accepted for inclusion in Clinical SociologyReview by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@WayneState.Recommended CitationKallen, David J. (1988) "Social Support and Health: An Annotated Biliography," Clinical Sociology Review: Vol. 6: Iss. 1, Article 25.Available at: http://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/csr/vol6/iss1/25BOOK REVIEWS 181pects," that is, the standard methods currently used in the treatment and preven-tion of family and individual problems. It suggests therapeutic and educationaltechniques, which probably do have value, but which are not new and which arein no way derived from the research at the heart of the book.Social Support and Health: An Annotated Bibliography, John G. Bruhn,Billy U. Philips, Paula L. Levine, and Carlos F. Mendes de Leon, New Yorkand London, Garland Publishing Co, 1987, 504 pps. $64.00An Appreciation by David J. KallenThe concept of social support has been receiving increasing attention in thesocial science and medical literature since the early 1970s. This volume, editedby an Associate Editor of this Journal and his colleagues brings together in oneplace an annotated bibliography of over 1200 publications in social supportwhich appeared in the literature between the early 1970s and 1986.The book is organized into seven main sections: 1) Social support theories,2) Social networks, 3) Social support, physical health and illness, and rehabilita-tion, 4) Social support, mental health and mental illness, 5) Social support andlife cycle issues, 6) Social and cultural factors and social support, and 7) Socialsupport strategies and applications. Each area is further subdivided by topics(i.e. specific disease categories in section 3). There is an author index and atopic index.The book has the strengths and weaknesses of an annotated bibliography.There is no clear theoretical orientation; rather the selection seems to be rela-tively comprehensive and eclectic. Each selection includes a brief statement ofthe audience most likely to be interested in the particular publication. The indexis comprehensive enough to be helpful in looking for fairly specific topics (i.e.elderly service programs, work environment). At the same time, the researcheror practitioner interested in general topics will need to look carefully through anumber of pages in order to make sure that all relevant articles are found.This is a useful book for practitioners and researchers concerned with issuesof social support. Having these citations in one volume will save hours of librarysearching, or of searching of electronic data bases. The summaries and interpre-tations are useful guides for which articles might be obtained and read and whichare not relevant to the interests of the particular reader of the book. Bruhn andhis colleagues have provided a real service in bringing these materials together.

Social Support and Health: An Annotated Biliography

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Social Support and Health: An Annotated Biliography

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